Right Things in a Wrong Way -- Thoughts on Prayer

          We may ask for right things—indeed, best things—and for what God wants to grant, and not get them because He sees it will not do—it would be furthering us in our selfishness.

          God, most certainly, wants to give revivals when oftentimes he cannot.  When a young lay-preacher, I was invited to a good New England town to hold a series of meetings with a prominent church.  It seemed a good chance to do something.  The society was strong and the situation in the community seemed to be one that promised a good time.

I preached faithfully for a week or more under seemingly favorable circumstances—fine congregations, good attention, divine aid—but I could seem to bring nothing to pass.

One night I requested that, when the service should be over, all the members of that local church should remain after all others had left the building.  This they did.  I then said: “God is certainly with me.  He aids me in preaching, helps me in public prayer and in my private devotions.  Our meetings are good as to attendance and attention, but no results in salvation; we do not seem to be doing anything.  What is the matter?  If it is with me I must find it out at once and get right, or go home.”

          There was silence.  It seemed long.  It certainly was oppressive.  At length a young man, prominent in the life of the church, arose, and with not a little emotion said: “It may not be my place to speak, but I must.  To me the situation is this: Our church has a commanding place in this town and has prospered in the years past.  Of late we have not been holding our own with the other churches.  Our congregations, while good, have dropped off some, as has our Sunday School; and our finances have not been up to the usual.

          He said, “If we can have a revival it will call attention to our church, fill up our Sunday School, increase our congregation and help our finances, etc.  I deplore all this, but I must state this as a confession of my own soul as a man and as an officer in this church.”

          He was hardly done when another said substantially the same thing, as did several others.  There was a genuine spirit of confession and humiliation before God which was striking and searching.

          Of course God was pleased.  The Spirit came and the revival was on in good earnest—a multitude found God in the next few days.

--Rev. Charles Fowler, 1912